Wax sweating plant



May 24, 1932. H. l.. ALLAN WAX SWEATING PLANT Filed July 25, 1930 48 o oo o o 0 0 0 o o o o o O o 0 5 Sheets-Sheet May 24, 1932. H. L. ALLAN WAXSWEATNG PLANT Filed July 25, 1930 5 Sheets-sheet 2 May 24, 1932..

H. L. ALLAN WAX SWEATING PLANT Filed July 25 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3Patented May 24, 1932 sra'r` HUGH LOGIE ALLAN, OF BURMAH, BRITISH INDIA,ASSIGNOR T THE BURMAH' OIL COMPANY LIMITED, 0F GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, ABRITISH CORPORATION i i WAX svvEATINe PLANT I Application filed July 25,1930, Serial No. 470,640, and in Great Britain October 2, 1929.

This invention relates to apparatus for the heat treatment of wax andwax mixtures, comprising a vessel having means for charging the samewith wax or wax mixture, which f, is supported within the vessel withoutthe use of water as a wax support, means being provided for withdrawingsuccessive portions of the mixture during the heat treatment, and meansbeing also provided for unim formly heating or cooling the waxthroughout the vessel.

Such apparatus is disclosed in the speciiications of United StatesPatents Nos. 1,504,- 923 and 1,743,746, the latter patent disclosl ingthe use of a series of transverse pipe coils through which a heating orcooling fluid is circulated, said pipe coils being spaced closelythroughout the wax mass under treatment.

The present invention contemplates the em- 2J ployment of a multiplicityof transverse or horizontal pipes straight throughout their length andconnected at their ends in groups to inlet and outlet chambers.

The present invention contemplates the provision of adeep closed vesselof large capacity having its external walls insulated or lagged toenable the vessel to be used in the open for the heat treatment of waxor wax mixture, instead of being enclosed in a specially heatedbuildingas has been heretofore proposed.

The staggering of the pipes closely spaced throughout the mass of waxunder treatment, not only leads to improved heat transference,

but provides a more efficient support for the mass of wax during thesweating process.

rlhe apparatus may be of the known type comprising a closed uprightvessel having partitions dividing it into a plurality of .fe Superposedwax containing compartments in which the wax is supported without theuse of water as a wax support, and the present invention thereforefurther consists in providing the several superposed compartments 5J ofan apparatus of the type described with 5 of wax in each compartment.

' In order that the invention may be morev apparatus shown in Figs. land 2, showing the water inlet and outlet headers at the opposite endsof the pan or vessel.

Fig. 4 is a part sectional elevation on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, showingthe steaming-out header.

Fig. 5 is a part sectional elevation showing an alternative constructionof the charg-A ing and run-down passages.

Fig. 6 is a sectional plan view of the charging and run-down passagesshown in Fig. 5.

The apparatus shown is particularly adapted for use where thecirculating fluid is of aI corrosive nature. The' vessel 36 is dividedinto a plurality of closed wax compartments 37 of rectangular formvertically superimposed, the divisions or diaphragms forming Y thebottom.y plates 38 of the compartments being sloped downward to oneside. A false bottom 39 of reticulated metal, metallic gauze or thelike, forming a support for the mass of wax or wax mixture during heattreatment, isfitted slightly above the bottom plate 38 of eachcompartment 87 and may be supported therefrom` by means of corrugations40 formed in the said bottom plate 38 or by other suitable means. Eachvertical end of the apparatus is of cellular construction consisting ofvertical tube plates 4l and horizontal plates 42 dividing the spacesbetween the tube plates 41 andthe outer shell 36 into a series of cellsor headers 43, 44, 45 and 46 by means of which circulating fluid is ledto and received from a number of straight horizontal pipes 47,preferably of mild steel ofuabout 1%, bore, disposed throughout thewax*` space in each compartment 37 in substantially horizontal rows, thehorizontal pitch in each row being about four inches and the verticalpitch of the rows being about two inches, adj a-4 cent horizontal rowsbeing staggered in the plan View so as to afford a maximum support forthe wax mass during heatftreatment. The ends of the horizontal tubes 47maybe VeX- panded into holes formed in the vertical end plates 4l of theapparatus or may be secured by vscrewed and packed lferrules yor by Hanyother known means. The circulating uid enters the cell or header 43 andafterpassing in one direction through one set of tubes E47 into the cellor header 44, returns throughthe higher set of tubes into the cell or-Aheader andLV from thence through-the uppermost set i citubes.into'theoutletcell orhheader `46.

VAccordingto the cross-sectionalarea of the apparatus one orv morevvertical ycharging and rundown passages .48.are formed-infor providedat the verticalk side towards which the bottom plates 38 slopedownwardffor theV purpose of introducing the liquefied wax vor waz;mixture prior totreatment, forn supercharging'by introducingadditionalliquid wax or wax mixturetocompensate 'for shrinkage of theoriginal charge during the cooling'phase, and for conducting awayto anloutletpipe or pipes 49 atthe bottom of the said Vertical passages 48oil or liquid wax discharged duringthe process of heat-treatment.Thesaid verticalpassage or passages 48 may be rectangular 'in horizontalsection and may be litted internally with pipes 50 v(Figs. l and 2) orducts 51.(Figsf5 and-f6) adapted toreceive heating fluid'for: thepurpose of maintaining the waxmixture contained inthe verticalpassages48 in liquid state `when required. At the side ofthe apparatus remotefrom the charging and rundownpassages48is a series of. air vents52located 'at orlnear the top of each waX space 37 and connected Vto anextern-al header V'53 adapted torcontrol admission or discharge of airtoor `from the interior of the apparatus. Gneor more headers 54 areprovided for injecting steam or other heating fluid into the spacebetween the bottom 38 of each wax compartment 37 and the falsel bottom39,

i and into the space above `the* false bottom 39 through-jet connections55 to facilitatethe melting out of the-:residual waxV afterheattreatment. The horizontal pipes'47 for circulationoffheating orcooling fluid may be supported at Various points in their length bylmeans of vertical diaphragms`56 perforated 'to correspond with vthearrangement ofholes in; the end plates 4l of the apparatus. On the topcover 57 of the apparatus are located relief .Valves 58 or other meansfor retions 59A connecting .the headers 43 with a l'lar Asteam" pipe 64is itted within the steam headers 54 for-the-same purpose,-the wax beingrun off through drain pipes 65.

Stiifeners 66 are iitted beneath each diaphragm or bottom plate 38inside the compartments and extend centrally'from end to end ofthecompartment 37 and :may compriseanged plates,iron angles or the like.Thesestilener-sare;` perforated to permit passage of air fand/or-waxfini-Xture from one sideto the other.` Y

The verticalsdiaphragm plates .56 vhave theircorners cutawayftofprovide'airvpasn sages 67 `between the compartments forme'd oneach side ofe the. plates 56 in orderthat the air suppliedbyftheairheader 53 may freely circulate through the whole compartment.

By the :use ofpipesr straight-.throughout or forthe greater partof.theirlengthairmay beexpelled during passage ot. the luid,where byinternal corrosion of. the. pipingis reduced to aIminimum.vTheapparatus.iszparticularlyadapted vfor-installing in theopen withoutrenclosure orv protection .by special build ing, lbutif preferred. it.mayf be installedu inside Ya building of :any A.known type or.construction.`

lThe apparatus may consist vof a single container or vessel `of .anydesired capacity, the vesselcorresponding to one of .the waxcompartments 37, that is to. say,withoudz being ,sub-divided intoV.superposed .compartments or .into' adjacent. compartments 'by .theVertical Vdiaphragm plates 56.

Claims: l l j 1...Apparatus for .the iheatetreatment vof wax or waXmixture comprising a wax kcontaining vessel, a ywaicsupport 'above.-thebottom.thereof,a multiplicity of straighttransverse lheatingorcoolingrfluid circulating pipes arranged .in superposed groups Yeach insuperposed-transverse rows in-said Yvessel, :an Y inlet .chamber`communicating with one Yend fof .the .lowermost .group of gapipes,

an intermediate chamber .connecting `the Vopposite V.end of the.lowermost group `of :pipes with a superjacentl group of lpipes,and:anoutletchamber connected totlieopposite end of Vthe superjacent ,groupvof .pipes .to .cause the iuidrto flow through thegroups of tubes in.series. y

f2.' .Apparatus for the heat-treatment vof wax'orwax mixture.comprisinga wax containing vessel, a wax support abovethe bottom'thereof, amultiplicity of straighttrans verse yheating or lcooling.,fluid .circulating lic? pipes arranged in superposed groups each insuperposed transverse rows in said vessel, an inlet chambercommunicating with one end of the lowermost group of pip-es, an outletchamber communicating with the uppermost group of pipes, andintermediate chambers connecting the ends of said lowermost anduppermost groups of pipes to intermediate groups of pipes at alternateends to cause the fluid to ow through the groups of tubes in series. l

3. Apparatus for the heat-treatment of wax or wax mixture comprising awax containing vessel, a wax support above the bottom thereof, amultiplicity of straight transverse heating or cooling fluid circulatingpipes arranged in superposed groups each in superposed transverse rowsin said vessel, an inlet chamber communicating with f one end of thelowermost. group of pipes, an

outlet chamber communicating with the uppermost group of pipes, andintermediate chambers connecting the ends of said lowermost anduppermost groups of pipes to intermediate groups of pipes at alternateends,

said chambers being external to said vwaxcontaining vessel to cause theHuid to low through the groups of tubes in series.

4. Apparatus for the heat-treatment of wax or wax mixture comprising awax-containing vessel having opposite ends of cellular construction eachconsisting of a vertical outer shell, an inner vertical tube plate andhorizontal plates dividing the space between the shell and tube plateinto a series of superposed cells, a multiplicity of straight transversepipes extending between the tube plates, a. heating or cooling Huidinlet pipe connected to one of the lowermost cells and an outlet pipeconnected to one of the uppermost cells, whereby iluid passes from onecell in one direction through one set of pipes into a cell at theopposite end of the vessel and returns through a higher set of pipesinto another cell, finally escaping through the outlet pipe.

5. Apparatus for the heat-treatment of wax or wax mixture comprising arectangular wax containing vessel, the bottom of which slopes towardsone side, a vertical charging passage at the side of the vessel to whichthe bottom slopes and opening into said vessel, a supply pipe at theupper end of said passage, an outlet at the lower end of said passage, awax support above the bottom of lsaid vessel, a multiplicity of straighttransverse heating or cooling liuid circulating pipes arranged insuperposed transverse rows in said vessel and parallel with the side ofthe vessel to which the bottom slopes, inlet and outlet chambers at theends of said vessel communicating respectively with the lowermost anduppermost groups of pipes, and intermediate end chambersconnecting thepipes in groups at alternate ends.

6. Apparatus `for the heat-treatment of wax or wax mixture comprising arectangular wax-containing vessel, the bottom of which slopes towardsone side, a wax support above the bottom of said vessel, a multiplicityof straight transverse heating or cooling fluid circulating pipesarranged in superposed transverse rows in said vessel and parallel withthe side of the vessel to which the bottom slopes, inlet and outletchambers at the ends of said vessel communicating respectively with thelowermost and uppermost groups of pipes, intermediate end chambersconnecting the pipes in groups at alternate ends, a vertical chargingchannel of rectangular section open on one side to the vessel at theside to which the bottom of the vessel slopes, a supply pipe at theupper end of said passage, an outlet at the lower end of said passage, asteaming chamber formed by a vertical partition in said passage, andsteam inlet and outlet connections to said chamber.

7. Apparatus for the heat-treatment of wax for wax mixture comprising anelongated rectangular wax-oontaining vessel, the bottom iof which slopestowards one side, vertical partitions at right angles to said side anddividing said vessel into chambers which communicate with each otherthrough said partitions, a wax support ,above the bottom of said vessel,a multiplicity of straight transverse heating or cooling fluidcirculating pipespassing through said partitions and arranged insuperposed transverse rows in said vessel and parallel with the side ofthe vessel to which the bottom slopes, inlet and outlet chambers at theends of said vessel communicating respectively with the lowermost anduppermost groups of pipes, intermediate end chambers connecting thepipes in groups at alternate ends, a vertical charging passage for eachof said chambers and opening thereinto, a supply pipe at the upper endof each passage, and an outlet at the lower end of each passage. v

8. Apparatus for the heat-treatment of wax or wax mixture comprising aclosed upright rectangular shell, phragms dividing said shell intosuperposed wax compartments, the bottom of said shell and saiddiaphragms sloping downwards towards one side, wax supports above saidbottom and diaphragms, inner vertical tube plates spaced from each endof said shell, horizontal plates dividing the space between the shelland each tube plate into a series of transverse diasuperposed cells, amultiplicity of straight transverse pipes extending between the tube pcompartment, whereby heating or cooling -uid may be circulated in onedirection through the lowermost set of pipes of each group, and pass 1in`alternate direc-tions through higher sets of pipes of each group beforefinally escaping, a vertical charging passage open to the side of thevessel to which thevdiaphragms slope, a supply pipe connected to theupper end of said passage, and an outlet at the lower end of saidpassage.

9. Apparatus for the heat-treatment o wax or wax mixture comprising aclosed '10 upright rectangular shell, transverse diaphragms dividingsaid shell into superposed wax compartments, the bottom of said shelland said diaphragms sloping downwards towards one side, wax supportsabove said bot- '15 'tom and diaphragms, Iinner vertical tube platesspaced from each end of said shell, horizontal plates dividing the spacebetween the shell and each tube plate into aV series of 'Y superposedcells, a multiplicity ofvstraight transverse pipes extending between thetube plates in each compartment, inlet andv outlet connections to thegroup of pipes in each compartment, whereby heating or cooling fluid maybe circulated in one direction through the-lowermost set of pipes ofeach group, yand pass in alternate directions through higher sets ofpipes of each group before finallyv escaping, a verticalachargingpassa-geopen to the side of the vessel to which the diaphragms slope, asupply pipe connected to the upper end of said passage, an outlet at thelower end of said passage, a series of airvents near-the-'top ofeach'compartment at the side opposite'to the charging i 35 passage, aheader connecting said vents,

means for injecting steam intosaid compartments above land below the waxsupports. HUGH-'LOGIE ALLAN.

